Looking back at Eddie Howe's first departure form AFC Bournemouth seems a long time ago now. Bournemouth were being managed by Sean O'Driscoll and rumours of Howe's possible departure started as early as February 2001, which is where this extract come from. Yet, Eddie Howe was to stay at AFC Bournemouth until the troubled 2001-02 season, when the club not only lost Eddie to Portsmouth but were relegated to League Two.
Keeping hold of Eddie Howe became a bit of a preoccupation for Sean O’Driscoll as the season progressed. Sean was not keen on letting Eddie Howe go. Eddie was a young player that looked destined for big things. When the talk of Eddie moving came in February 2001, O’Driscoll made it clear that clubs would not get a cheap deal. In the programme notes against Walsall, Sean said: ‘To clarify Eddie’s situation, there have been numerous clubs watching games throughout the season. I was informed an offer from an unnamed club was imminent during the latter part of the week. To safeguard the interests of the payer and the club, I decided to omit Eddie from the team.’
The writing was on the wall. Eddie would be sold it seemed. Speaking on all the speculation, Eddie Howe’s agent, David Fordham told the Dorset Echo: ‘With a player as good as Eddie, and remember, he is the best defender in the division, there is always going to be interest from other clubs. It’s a matter of talent, not money. Eddie has never been money motivated.’
An unofficial bid of £600,000 was thought to have been sent to David Fordham a few days before the window shut, but Eddie Howe shrugged it off when he was named in the team to play Walsall. ‘The game did me a favour and gave me something to concentrate on. In the build-up, I wasn’t thinking about anything else and it will be the same for the match at Swindon tomorrow. I was pretty nervous before kick-off because I felt everyone would be looking at me to see how I played. I was tense during the week, but worked hard in training and was really looking forward to the game. I was a bit apprehensive about the reception I might get, but the supporters were absolutely fantastic and really helped me get through it all and I would like to thank them for that,’ Howe told the Dorset Echo. Eddie even scored in the game which some may have felt was like a parting gift.
Eddie Had A Dream is now out on paperback £13.49 and as an ebook £9.99 from Amazon/Kindle. Simply enter Eddie Had A Dream in the search field to find the books. The book should take you back to a few memories of AFC Bournemouth and years when Eddie Howe was developing as a player and then a coach. If you do buy a copy, don't forget to leave a review.
The £13.49 paperback version of the book is now available on Amazon/Kindle - click on this link
To order your £9.99 ebook copy of Eddie Had A Dream - click on this link
The £13.49 paperback version of the book is now available on Amazon/Kindle - click on this link
First season in the Premier League – cast your mind back to those back to back wins over Chelsea and Man Utd
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